Tyra Banks was rooting for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show stars from afar.
Although the America’s Next Top Model alum has been a close friend to the brand since the onset of her modeling career in the 1990s—and walked in nine iterations of its iconic show before her 2005 modeling retirement—she shared why she wasn’t able to attend its latest event in New York Oct. 15.
“I’m in Australia,” she admitted in an interview with Entertainment Tonight shared Oct. 15, noting she was busy with her ice cream business, SMiZE and Dream. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Of course, the 51-year-old emphasized that her absence doesn’t make the brand any less iconic, especially after the annual fashion show made a comeback last year following a five-year hiatus.
“Victoria’s Secret is an American staple,” she gushed, “and now a global institution. I’m so happy it’s back.”
Indeed, Tyra—who moved to Australia in 2023 with 9-year-old son Yorks Banks Asla—highlighted how integral Victoria’s Secret was in launching her own career.
“Ten years of being an Angel with them,” she reminisced. “Being the first Black [model in] many things for them. Breaking down those doors and now seeing all that beautiful diversity following that door that we opened is so beautiful. I have a lot to thank for them.”
Meanwhile, the brand could thank Tyra for assisting in launching their rebranded show last year, marking her first catwalk appearance since her 2005 retirement. Although the Life Size alum willingly walked away from another contract in the mid-aughts, she reflected on how the world has evolved to let her truly have it all.
“I can be a businesswoman,” she told Harper’s Bazaar last year, “and have my ice cream company and speak at business institutions and get my certificate from my Harvard course and teach at Stanford and, yes, be a Victoria’s Secret model.”
Indeed, Tyra was excited for what the new era of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show represented.
“The world has changed to see that, as women, we don’t have to be a stereotype and to fit into one mold," she added. "And so I feel very excited and fortunate to come back and celebrate all of myself and not feel like I have to cut off a piece to be taken seriously.”
While Tyra had to miss the big show this year, keep reading for every star who walked the Victoria’s Secret Runway….
Candice Swanepoel, Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Bella Hadid, Angel Reese, Jasmine Tookes, Alex Consani, Gigi Hadid, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Alessandra Ambrosio
Bella Hadid
Gigi Hadid
Emily Ratajkowski
Candice Swanepoel
Angel Reese
Barbara Palvin
Jasmine Tookes
Ashley Graham
Behati Prinsloo
Madison Beer
Irina Shayk
Alessandra Ambrosio
Amelia Gray
Doutzen Kroes
Lily Aldridge
Karol G
Joan Smalls
Barbie Ferreira
Suni Lee
Iris Law
Stella Maxwell
TWICE
Missy Elliott
Precious Lee
Imaan Hammam
Liu Wen
Gigi Hadid
Bella Hadid
Candice Swanepoel